Rupee to recover in 2-3 months: Govt

Mumbai, Nov 24, 2012, PTI :

Even as the rupee plunged to a 10 -week low against US dollar on Friday erasing almost the entire gains it made since the recent reform waves, the finance ministry has expressed optimism of a recovery before the fiscal-end and ruled out any intervention by RBI.

“We are quite hopeful that the rupee will strengthen in next two-three months,” Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram told reporters at the concluding day of the two-day Asia Securities Forum here.

Mayaram hoped the currency will appreciate once the economy is back on an upward curve without any effective intervention by the RBI.

“I don’t think RBI would have to effectively intervene for strengthening the rupee. We believe, once the slowdown bottoms out, the rupee will strengthen”.

The rupee lost nearly 4 per cent against the dollar in November alone, becoming the worst loser among the leading global currencies for the month. Last year, the Indian unit was the second worst performer after the ‘real’ of Brazil, losing close to 20 per cent.

On the back of reform initiatives on September 14 and October 5, the rupee had rallied 5.1 per cent to close at 51.37 to the dollar.